December 03, 2012

Little Monsters’ guide: Important news for Lady Gaga’s Cape Town gig

Fazielah Williams has lived in and loved her Mother City since birth. Having lived all over the Peninsula during her childhood, she now calls the picturesque City Bowl home and likes nothing more than watching the sun set over Table Bay from the window of her apartment.

A lover of the arts and proud Cape Town fanatic, Fazielah began her writing career by spending many hours as a child conjuring fantastical stories that featured independent heroines from faraway lands who saved the Prince instead. This Capetonian princess has enjoyed stints as a magical arts PRO and TV publicist before finding her calling as a travel writer.

When not waxing lyrical about the Fairest Cape’s most loved attractions and activities and embarking on unexpected adventures, Fazielah can usually be found taking in a show at one of the City’s fabulous theatres.

2. Take some cash along: There will Gaga merchandise items on sale (from R50 to R1 000) so keep your moola on hand for your concert keepsake. Remember, there are no ATMs at the stadium so please draw your cash before the concert.

3. Don’t be snappy happy: Strike a Gagalicious pose on the Fanwalk, by all means, but do note that you are not allowed, Paparazzi, under any circumstances to film or photograph the show.

4. Stay the night: Take the stress out of rushing home after the Ball and lay your weary ghoulish head down at one of the Mother City’s top CBD accommodation spots.

Now, for the other, “really” important stuff…Road closures and parking:
Road closures: There will be road closures. For more details go to transport.info@capetown.gov.za

Impact of road closures on public transport

Public transport services operating in the Green Point and CBD areas may be subject to localised deviations from 14h00 on 7 November 2012. The affected scheduled services are listed below:
• Golden Arrow service travelling through Green Point Area
- All services along Somerset/Main Road Green Point between Buitengracht and York Road will run along Helen Suzman Boulevard after 16h00. Passengers using this service may board or disembark at the stops either side of the closures at Buitengracht or York Road.

• Golden Arrow service entering the CBD
- The Waterfront service (CBD-bound) will operate via the Cape Town International Convention Centre, turning right into Heerengracht, stopping opposite Standard Bank, proceeding around the circle, back down Heerengracht and on to the Waterfront. The Waterfront/Sea Point service will continue to operate on its normal routes but may be subject to delays.

• MyCiTi Waterfront service
- The normal service will not be free of charge.
- The service will stop at the stadium bus station en route to the Waterfront and then will be rerouted from Helen Suzman Boulevard into Portswood Road, turning left into Beach Road and right at the traffic circle into Granger Bay Boulevard.
- Granger Bay bus station will be closed for this period while all other stops and services on the Gardens-Civic-Waterfront route will remain operational.
- Passengers may use the Waterfront (in Breakwater Lane), stadium bus station and/or Buitengracht stops as alternatives to the Granger Bay bus station.
- On the return journey from the Waterfront, the bus will turn left into Beach Road, right into Portswood Road and left at Helen Suzman Boulevard to continue its normal route to the CBD.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

- No parking at or near the stadium will be available to the general public.

Concert ticket holders are encouraged to:
- Use public transport to the Civic Centre bus station and catch the free event shuttle to the stadium; or
- Park in the City Bowl and use the free event shuttle to the stadium; or
- Park at the V&A Waterfront and walk to the stadium

METRORAIL SERVICE

- Metrorail services to and from Cape Town will run as normal before the concert and passengers will be required to be in possession of a valid train ticket.
- Train schedules and related information are available from the 24/7 Transport Information Centre’s toll-free number 0800 65 64 63, and www.capemetrorail.co.za
- Limited special train services will be available after the concert and will be free on presentation of a valid concert stub.

- The standard hours of operation and fares will apply for the Civic Centre to Table View, Waterfront and Gardens routes.
- Passengers will be required to use the myconnect card (loaded with sufficient value) to travel to the Civic Centre bus station. Cards can be purchased at any open Revenue Kiosk or selected MyCiTi stations. The 24/7 Transport Information Centre can be contacted on 0800 65 64 63 for information on other vendors selling the myconnect card.

The following special services will be provided after the concert from Civic Centre to:

Table View (trunk & feeder)
- First bus leaves the Civic Centre bus station at 23h30.
- Second leaves 30 minutes later.
- Last bus leaves at 00h30
NOTE: Bus will stop at Lagoon Beach, Woodbridge, Milnerton, Racecourse, Sunset Beach and Table View stations. Passengers who wish to disembark at any other stations must please indicate that by pressing the buzzer.

Feeder buses will be in operation from 24h00
Last feeder buses leave Table View Station at 01h00
CHARGES: Free of charge on presentation of a valid concert ticket.

Gardens
- The first bus leaves the Civic Centre bus station at 23h30.
- The second bus leaves 30 minutes later.
- The last bus leaves at 00h30.

CHARGES: Free of charge on presentation of a valid concert ticket.

EVENT SHUTTLE(s)

Stadium Shuttle - between Civic Centre and stadium
- First bus from the Civic Centre bus station in Hertzog Boulevard leaves at 17h00
- Thereafter a bus leaves every 15 minutes or when full
- This service will continue during the event
- The last return bus leaves the stadium bus station at 00h15
CHARGES: Free of charge on presentation of a valid concert ticket.

Hout Bay Shuttle - between Kronendal Primary School and Stadium
- 1st bus from Kronendal leaves at 17h00
- Thereafter a bus leaves every 15 minutes or when full.
- The last bus to the Stadium leaves at 20h00
- The first return bus departs from York Road at 23h15
- The last return bus leaves at 00h15
CHARGES: Free of charge on presentation of a valid concert ticket.

UCT Shuttle – between UCT and Civic Centre
- 1st bus from the UCT Upper Campus to the Civic Centre bus station in Hertzog Boulevard leaves at 17h00
- Thereafter a bus will leave every 15 minutes or when full.
- The last bus to the Civic Centre leaves at 20h00
- The first return bus leaves the Civic Centre at 23h30
- The last return bus leaves at 00h30
CHARGES: Free of charge on presentation of a valid concert ticket.

COACHES AND BUSES
Private couches and buses may, on a first-come basis, use the limited coach parking on Helen Suzman Boulevard between Beach and Vlei Roads.

PARK-AND-RIDES

- At Rail Stations
These are situated at or near rail stations and a nominal fee may be applicable at some of these facilities. Please contact the Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63 for more information.
- At Dedicated Locations Served By Event Shuttles
Event Shuttle: Hout Bay
Location of Park and Ride: Kronendal Primary School
Operational Hours: 17h00 until 01h00
Parking Fee: R20 per vehicle
Parking Fee: Free parking on street at Maiden’s Cove or in the municipal parking area off Victoria Road Unlimited
Event Shuttle: UCT
Location of the Park and Ride: UCT Upper Campus off the M3
Operational Hours: 17h00 until 01h00
Parking Fee: Free
Ratanga Junction will NOT be operational.

PARKING

Parking restrictions will be enforced in the residential areas adjacent to Cape Town Stadium from 00h00 to 24h00 (midnight) on November 7, 2012, including on Main Road.

Motorists are advised to obey the signage. Normal restrictions and charges apply to kerbside parking in the CBD for a weekday.

People with disabilities
- Dedicated parking has been allocated on DF Malan Drive for those attendees with disabilities who wish to use the Stadium shuttle. Only people with an official disability permit from the City will be allowed to park in this dedicated parking area.
- Ticket holders must formally request access to the parking bays dedicated to people with disabilities by sending an e-mail to donne@bigconcerts.co.za.
- Concertgoers will have to provide evidence that they are entitled to these parking bays by clearly displaying the Vehicle Access Permit (VAP) in full colour on their dashboard when entering the parking area (P5) on Vlei Road. Failure to display will result in access being denied.
- Enquiries regarding the limited parking within the stadium for people with disabilities must be emailed to terri@bigconcerts.co.za or donne@bigconcerts.co.za.
- Parking for people with disabilities is issued at the discretion of the event organiser and is subject to availability.

Drop-and-Go
- Attendees may be dropped off and collected at the following appropriately signed locations; in DF Malan Drive opposite the Artscape Theatre or, in the embayment off Helen Suzman Blvd (City bound carriageway), between Vlei Road and the elevated traffic circle at Granger Bay Blvd.

On-Street in the CBD
- On-street parking is available within the CBD but no additional security will be provided.
- Parking tariffs will apply until 17h00 when on-street parking becomes free of charge.

V & A Waterfront
- The V&A Waterfront has approximately 3 500 parking bays available to the general public.
- There is a charge associated with this parking, and traffic flows into and out of the V&A Waterfront may be congested.

PEDESTRIAN ROUTES

Pedestrian routes between the stadium and

City Centre (via Fan Walk)
- Part of the road will be open to normal vehicular traffic.
- Pedestrians are urged to use the sidewalk and dedicated lane to the underpass at Green Point Circle.

V & A Waterfront
- This route is via Granger Bay Boulevard.
- Pedestrians are urged to avoid Portswood Road as the pedestrian walkways along that route are restricted.

CYCLING

- Attendees wishing to cycle to the stadium are encouraged to do so.
- Bicycle racks are located on the eastern (Waterfront) side of the elevated circle at the stadium.
- Cyclists must provide their own lock and chain as bicycles are left at own risk.

Please remember the “ride safe” motto and wear a helmet, have adequate lighting and wear reflective clothing (NB: helmets are not allowed inside the stadium).

Due to the number of people using the Fan Walk, it is advised that cyclists coming from the CBD use the route through the V&A Waterfront or the back roads in De Waterkant to access the stadium.

Ok, that’s it from me… get your paws up, little monsters, and enjoy the show!

To get you in the mood for Mother Monster (as if you need any more motivation); watch the Born This Way video, performed at the Grammy Awards, below: